Executive Council Meets-- A Summary
Diocesan Press Service. December 13, 1973 [73265]
GREENWICH, Conn. -- A six months' contract has been written with Leon Modeste, director of the Episcopal Church's General Convention Special Program (GCSP), which will be phased out at the end of December, to produce "a permanent record of the six critical years " of the GCSP in the Episcopal Church's life, according to an announcement to the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church by the executive vice president.
Bishop Roger Blanchard indicated that the contract between Mr. Modeste and the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Episcopal Church had been given "because I believe that he is the best person to do this job. "
The General Convention of the Episcopal Church recently established a new staff section to coordinate the church's program and grant concerns for racial and ethnic minorities. The new section, to be known as Mission Service and Strategy, will coordinate the program and administrative grants currently managed by the GCSP, the National Committee on Indian Work, the National Commission on Hispanic Affairs, and new work to be undertaken with Black and Asian Episcopalians.
Mr. Modeste has been director of the GCSP since its establishment by the General Convention in 1967. The program has administered grants totaling $7.5 million to some 300 community action groups for empowerment and self-determination projects.
Mr. Modeste and eight of his co-workers were recently informed of their termination with the phasing out of the present " special " program at the end of the year.
The only objection voiced to the announcement was by Council member Bishop Wilburn C. Campbell of West Virginia, a frequent critic of the administration of the GCSP, who said that he thinks the evaluation of the program should be undertaken by a more "objective person " who had not been so closely associated with the program.
In his message to the Council, Presiding Bishop John E. Hines expressed his "personal gratitude to Mr. Leon Modeste and to the highly trained professional staff which developed the General Convention Special Program and -- with it -- moved onto the scene of desperate human need among the powerless and the poor. "
Though the program did not obliterate the evils of racism and paternalism, Bishop Hines said, it "did help some poor and despairing people to understand that somebody cared -- cared without wanting to exploit their misery. And it did light a brief candle in the gloom of the violent sixties."
" I owe Mr. Modeste, and those who worked with him, very, very, much, " Bishop Hines said. "And so does the Episcopal Church. Whatever the shortcomings, and whatever the future, the General Convention Special Program under Leon Modeste can credit itself with being ' a moment in the conscience of men. '"
The Council adopted a resolution which expressed "the gratitude of the Episcopal Church to Mr. Modeste and his staff for enabling the Church to see itself anew as 'an institutional organism that lives in the world, and whose aim is to spend herself in mission.'
The Executive Council also adopted a budget of $13,625,732 for 1974. Dr. Lindley M. Franklin, Jr., treasurer, reported that as of November 30, 59 of the 92 domestic dioceses have pledged toward the 1974 budget. Fifty-four of these dioceses have met or exceeded the assigned quota, he said.
Walker Taylor, chairman of the Council's Development and Finance Committee, said that he and his committee members "are happy and feel very encouraged and optimistic " that the Church can carry out the mandate of the General Convention that the Executive Council operate on a balanced budget.
Bishop Roger Blanchard said that now dioceses have "an opportunity to adjust their pledge so that for the first time in the history of this Church, the actual General Convention budget can be met. "
The Council authorized its Committee on Social Responsibility in Investments to file shareholder resolutions with the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co., and with Phillips Petroleum Co., each of which "made an illegal donation of corporate funds, in violation of Federal criminal statutes to a presidential campaign committee. "
The resolution stated that "the shareholders deplore this criminal violation of law," and that they "request the Board of Directors to immediately implement effective internal procedures to assure that such illegal political contributions cannot again be made in the future. "
As a result of the illegal political contributions of corporate funds, the committee said, the two companies were indicted, plead guilty and were fined $5, 000 each.
The Council defeated a resolution which would have requested the board of directors of each corporation "to take appropriate steps to institute a civil lawsuit" against those officials responsible for the illegal contributions, in order that the fine and related legal costs and any unreturned portion of the gift might be recovered.
The Council also authorized the committee to file shareholder resolutions with Exxon, asking for action that would forbid "exploration, mining, oil drilling or oil production activities in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Portuguese Guinea) or waters adjacent thereto, under purported concessions obtained from the Portuguese government," and with General Electric, requesting the disclosure of data on the company's equal employment practices.
The Council authorized "the purchase of U.S. Treasury certificates which bear interest" which will "be deposited in the Federal Court Registry in lieu of bail" on behalf of "cases arising from the Pine Ridge and Rosebud crises of 1972. "
The Council authorized the purchase of certificates in the amount of $60,000 or the Episcopal Church's portion of the National Council of Churches' goal of $500,000 from member churches, whichever is less. The Council resolution indicated that the action wa s taken "without expressing opinion on the issues involved in any controversy, or the merits of any individual case. "
The Council voted to provide "up to $150,000 in 1974 in the Communication budget" for The Episcopalian, Inc., "to ensure the continuation of publication through the initial stages of a fund-raising campaign to which the President and Board . .. have committed themselves. "
The Council had declined to recommend the magazine to the General Convention for funding in 1974, but the Convention at its recent meeting authorized the Council's Program Group on Communication "to work with The Episcopalian in developing an information system for the entire Church. "
The president and board of The Episcopalian, Inc., have agreed to seek funding for continued publication outside the General Church Program budget. The Council funds will be advanced quarterly but "only if necessary and upon request" of the publication. The advanced funds will be returned to the communication group of Council if the fund-raising effort is successful. If it fails, The Episcopalian, Inc., will "be responsible for any costs involved in discontinuation. "
The Executive Council also –
* Received a report from the Program Group on Evangelism which asked the executive vice president to employ a consultant as soon as possible to suggest available evangelism resources, to find ways to aid dioceses and parishes, and to find ways to collaborate with staff and program groups on education and lay ministries which are to work together as a team.
* Heard an announcement from the Presiding Bishop that he has appointed Ms. Fay McKnight as Indian Affairs Officer to succeed Dr. Howard Meredith, who has resigned, effective January 1, 1974.
* Heard the Presiding Bishop's announcement of the interim appointment for six months, beginning January 1, 1974, of the Rev. Winston W. Ching as head of the new agency in Mission Service and Strategy for Asian Episcopalians.
* Heard a report that the Bi-Centennial Commission is making plans for the Episcopal Church's participation in the observance of the bi-centennial of the nation and is developing suggestions for dioceses and parishes.
* Received a report that the Program Group on Social Ministry and Concerns is beginning work on General Convention directives regarding peace education, juvenile justice and Project Equality.